President Clerides on proximity talks

September 23, 2000

Exiting the UN building on September 23 from a meeting with UN Special Adviser Alvaro De Soto, President Glafcos Clerides said that the discussion on all four issues, defined by the UN in the context of the proximity talks, will be completed with Monday’s (September 25) meeting with the UN. The President said one could say there has been progress in the sense that the four issues (constitution, territory, security, property-refugees) will have been discussed at this fourth round of proximity talks, which started on the 12 and will conclude on Tuesday, 26 September.

Speaking after a meeting here with UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, the President said he could not disclose anything about the content of his discussions, as there is a news blackout on the talks imposed by the UN. “What I can tell you is that with our meeting on Monday, I believe we will conclude discussions on all the four core issues which the Secretary General has set out for discussion,” the President said.

Asked whether he shares de Soto’s assessment that there is progress in the proximity talks, the President noted that at this stage it is difficult to express an opinion. “One could say that there is some progress, that we are discussing the four core issues but that should not be taken to mean that we have reached any agreements,” the President stressed.

The President also said, replying to a question, that he did not get any document at the meeting.